Page 82 - Judicial Diversity Update report

Data collection

4.23. We recommended improved data collection and transparency and are pleased
that the JAC is now collecting and publishing social mobility statistics. As
noted above, the JAC has also introduced enhanced information on the
professional background of appointees. While these are positive developments,
there is still much more data that is required to develop a full understanding of
those people applying and being appointed to judicial office, including the need
to capture more intersectional data (See Annex). We have welcomed the
introduction by the JAC to the Ministry of Justice’s Statistics team, currently
reviewing the approach to appointment statistics.

Increasing the desirability of judicial roles

4.24. We also made recommendations aimed at working conditions of judges, with
a view to increasing the attractiveness of the job; a concern that was reinforced
with the evidence gathering for this Update. We are pleased that concerns
around judicial pay and pensions have, at least in part, been addressed.

4.25. We recommended making flexible working the default position for all
appointments. The observations in our report were reflected in that of the Senior
Salaries Review Body (SSRB) in October 2018. 172 This confirmed that a
perceived lack of flexibility in judicial work discourages applications,
particularly from women, with more than half of the women interviewed raising
173
the concern (compared with around a quarter of the men). Respondents noted
that there were few part-time salaried judicial positions, and were concerned
also about being allocated to a location that was inconvenient for their domestic
174
responsibilities.

4.26. The SSRB reported mixed responses about High Court judges having to go
on Circuit, noting ‘several respondents considering an application to the High

172 Review Body on Senior Salaries, Supplement to the Fortieth Annual Report on Senior Salaries
2018, Report No. 90: Major Review of the Judicial Salary Structure, October 2018, available at
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/751
903/Supp_to_the_SSRB_Fortieth_Annual_Report_2018_Major_Review_of_the_Judicial_Salary_Stru
cture.pdf
173 Ibid, pp.60-61
174 Ibid
77